Metal lining for walls of insulated cabinets



April 11, 1939. D. E. HUNTER 2,153,868

METAL LINING FOR WALLS OF INSULATED CABINETS Filed Aug. 19, 1937 Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL LINING FOR WALLS OF INSULATED CABINETS Application August 19, 1937, Serial No. 159,985

5 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in insulated ling cabinets of the kind comprised of an outer sheet metal case and of inner walls or partitions or both made of gypsum or the like.

In insulated cabinets of the kind, the inner walls including the top walls of the cabinet and of the drawer compartments provided by the partition walls, are without protection or covering except by a coating of paint. Said top walls are thus exposed to abrasion and damage by metal tabs on the guide cards in the le drawer, or any sharp objects contained in the folders rising above the intended level, when said drawer is moved into or out of its compartment.

One object of the invention is to provide a metal lining for such top wall to shield and protect it from abrasion and damage to the insulation material. Another object of the invention is to provide a metal lining of the kind which may be readily and easily applied and secured in place against said wall without direct connection through the insulation to the outer metal case, thus avoiding heat conduction to the interior or the compartment in case of fire.

The advantages of the invention will appear more fully in the following specification.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the upper part of an insulated filing cabinet with the improved metal lining applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View of the cabinet on a somewhat enlarged scale in a plane indicated by the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the novel lining ready for application to the top wall f a compartment of a iiling cabinet.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing: I0 indicates the cabinet as a whole, II indicates the outer metal case, and I2 indicates the insulation lining which comprises all the inner walls of the cabinet including the top walls I3, I3 of the compartments into which it is divided. I4 indicates the front hollow metal frame which is fixed to or made a part of the metal case II and includes vertically spaced bars or rails I5, I5 which limit and support the said walls I3, I3.

I6 indicates the improved lining for the top w`all of a compartment. Said lining consists of a metal panel II, somewhat less in length and width than the length and width of the wall to which it is to be applied, having depending tension flanges I8, I8 at its lateral edges, a similar depending flange I9 at its rear end and upwardly oiset horizontal flange 20 at its front end. The

bottom edges of the lateral flanges I8 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the top wall to which the lining is to be applied.

Upright metal bars 2| are, as shown and preferably, embedded in the insulation of the side walls of the cabinet near the rear of the compartments. Said bars are cut to provide tongues 22 which normally lie in the plane of the bar, but which are adapted to be bent upwardly upon the bar. Said tongues are so spaced below a top wall I3 that when thus bent each tongue will engage the bottom edge of a lateral flange I8 of the lining IB to support the panel in close contact with the top wall, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

To apply the improved lining I6 to the top wall of a compartment of a cabinet, it is introduced completely into the compartment, with its panel I'I somewhat inclined downwardly from front to rear. It is then brought forwardly and upwardly (its lateral tension flanges I8 yielding in their engagement with the side walls of the compartment to permit such movement) to bring its front, upwardly offset flange 20 to seat above the bottom flange I5a of the cross bar I5, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1. To permit such seating, a groove to receive the iiange 20 of the lining is made above the rail flange I5a either at the time of the application of the lining or in the fabrication of the cabinet. The lining I6 is then swung upwardly about the forward edge of the panel II until said panel is brought to close contact with the top wall I3, with its rear tension flange I9 engaged against the rear wall of the compartment. The tongues 22 of the bars 2I are then bent upwardly to engage the bottom edges of the lateral tension anges I8 in such manner as to support the panel Il near its rear end in contact with the top wall of the compartment. When in nal position the rear tension ange I9 acts to retain the front ange 2U of the lining IB in its seat, thus supporting the front end of the panel I1; and by the support of the tongues 22 for the rear end of said panel, the lining is held securely in place against the top wall of the compartment.

To reinforce the depending flanges of the lining, and more particularly to round their bottom edges for sliding movement Without abrasion against the walls of the compartment when the lining is being applied, the metal of said flanges is bent upon itself as indicated at I8a and |98.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that the novel lining may be readily and quickly applied when desirable, in the shop or in the eld, to shield and protect the insulation of the top wall of a compartment from abrasion or damage that might otherwise result from any metal tabs or sharp points projecting above the le drawers as they are moved inwardly and outwardly.

While in describing the invention I have referred to certain details and arrangement of parts, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as the invention:

1. In combination with an insulated cabinet having insulation top, side and back walls, a lining for said top wall comprising a panel engaged with said top Wall and having lateral and rear end tension members engaged respectively against said side and back walls, and a member at its front end projecting beyond said panel, and means providing a seat in which said projecting front member is held by the tension of said rear end tension member.

2. In combination with an insulated cabinet having insulation top, side and back walls, a lining for said top wall comprising a panel engaged with said top wall and having downwardly and outwardly inclined lateral and rear end tension anges engaged respectively against said side and back walls, and a flange at its front end oset from said panel, and means providing a seat in which said front flange is held by the tension of said rear end flange.

3. In combination with an insulated cabinet having insulation top, side and back walls, a lining for said top Wall comprising a panel engaged with said top Wall and having downwardly and outwardly inclined lateral and rear end tension flanges engaged respectively against said side and back walls, and a flange at its front end offset from said panel, and means providing a seat in which said front ange is held by the tension of said rear end flange, and upright bars embedded in said side walls and having parts supportingly engaged with said lining.

4. In combination with an insulated cabinet having insulation top, side and back walls, a lining for said top wall comprising a panel engaged with said top wall and having downwardly and outwardly inclined lateral' and rear end tension flanges engaged respectively against said side and back walls, and a ange at its front end offset from said panel, and means providing a seat in which said front ange is held by the tension of said rear end flange, and upright bars embedded in said side walls and having parts supportingly engaged with the bottom edges of the lateral anges of said lining.

5. In combination with an insulated cabinet having insulation top, side and back walls, a lining for said top wall comprising a panel engaged with said top wall and having downwardly and outwardly inclined lateral and rear end tension flanges engaged respectively against said side and back walls, and a flange at its front end offset from said panel, and means providing a seat in which said front flange is held by the tension of said rear end flange, and upright bars embedded in said side walls and having tongues cut therein, said tongues normally lying in the plane of said bars but being adapted to be bent to supportingly engage the lateral anges of the panel.

MARION HUNTER BROWN. Special Administratrz'x of the Estate of David E.

Hunter, Deceased. 

